Atlantic Sun Conference
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| Atlantic Sun Conference (A-Sun) |
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|---|---|
| Atlantic Sun Conference logo | |
| Established | 1978 |
| Association | NCAA |
| Division | Division I non-football |
| Members | 8 |
| Sports fielded | 19 (men's: 8; women's: 11) |
| Region | Southeastern United States and New Jersey |
| Former names | Trans America Athletic Conference (1978–2001) |
| Headquarters | Macon, Georgia |
| Commissioner | Ted Gumbart (since 2007) |
| Website | www |
| Locations | |
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The Atlantic Sun Conference (A-Sun) is a collegiate athletic conference operating mostly in the Southeastern United States. The league participates at the NCAA Division I level, and does not sponsor football. Originally established as the Trans America Athletic Conference (TAAC) in 1978,[1] its headquarters are located in Macon, Georgia.
The most recent change in the A-Sun membership came in 2015–16, when Northern Kentucky University (transitioning from NCAA Division II sports to Division I) left the conference to join the Horizon League[2] and was replaced by the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT), previously the only Division I basketball independent.[3] Northern Kentucky had replaced Belmont University, which moved to the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC);[4] this maintained the membership roster at 10 schools. The 2014 departure of East Tennessee State University and Mercer University to the Southern Conference left the A-Sun with its current membership number of eight.
Contents
Membership history
Current members
| Institution | Location | Founded | Type | Enrollment [5] | U.S. News Ranking[5] |
Endowment (mil)[5] |
Joined | Nickname |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florida Gulf Coast University | Fort Myers, Florida | 1991 | Public | 14,098 | 87 (Regional: South) |
$51.0m | 2007 | Eagles |
| Jacksonville University | Jacksonville, Florida | 1934 | Private | 4,157 | 73 (Regional: South) |
$40.3m | 1998 | Dolphins |
| Kennesaw State University | Kennesaw, Georgia | 1963 | Public | 24,629 | 70 (Regional: South) |
$25.0m | 2005 | Owls |
| Lipscomb University | Nashville, Tennessee | 1891 | Private | 4,580 | 18 (Regional: South) |
$62.3m | 2003 | Bisons |
| New Jersey Institute of Technology | Newark, New Jersey | 1881 | Public | 10,646 | 140 (National) |
$102.1m | 2015 | Highlanders |
| University of North Florida | Jacksonville, Florida | 1969 | Public | 16,083 | 51 (Regional: South) |
$84.2m | 2005 | Ospreys |
| University of South Carolina Upstate | Spartanburg, South Carolina | 1967 | Public | 5,358 | 32 (Regional College: South) |
$6.7m | 2007 | Spartans |
| Stetson University | DeLand, Florida | 1883 | Private | 4,044 | 6 (Regional: South) |
$173.2m | 1985 | Hatters |
Associate members
| Institution | Location | Founded | Type | Enrollment | Joined | Nickname | Primary Conference |
A-Sun Sports |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central Michigan University | Mount Pleasant, Michigan | 1892 | Public | 27,693 | 2015–16 | Chippewas | MAC | women's lacrosse |
| Coastal Carolina University | Conway, South Carolina | 1954 | Public | 9,976 | 2015–16 | Chanticleers | Big South (Sun Belt in 2016) |
beach volleyball |
| University of Detroit Mercy | Detroit, Michigan | 1877 | Private | 5,700 | 2012–13 | Titans | Horizon | women's lacrosse |
| Furman University | Greenville, South Carolina | 1826 | Private | 3,121 | 2013–14 | Paladins | SoCon | women's lacrosse |
| Howard University | Washington, D.C. | 1867 | Private | 10,991 | 2012–13 | Lady Bison | MEAC | women's lacrosse |
| Mercer University | Macon, Georgia | 1833 | Private | 8,500 | 2014–15 | Bears | SoCon | women's lacrosse beach volleyball |
| Old Dominion University | Norfolk, Virginia | 1930 | Public | 24,125 | 2014–15 | Monarchs | C-USA | women's lacrosse |
Future Associate members
| Institution | Location | Founded | Type | Enrollment | Joining | Nickname | Primary Conference |
A-Sun Sports |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delaware State University | Dover, Delaware | 1891 | Public | 3,400 | 2016-17 | Hornets | MEAC | women's lacrosse |
| Wofford College | Spartanburg, South Carolina | 1854 | Private | 1,584 | 2016-17 | Terriers | SoCon | women's lacrosse |
Membership timeline
- Northeast Louisiana became the University of Louisiana at Monroe (Louisiana–Monroe) in 1999.
- Pan American, later known as Texas–Pan American or UTPA, merged with the University of Texas at Brownsville in 2015 to create the new University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV). The new school inherited UTPA's athletic program.
Sports sponsored
The Atlantic Sun Conference sponsors championship competition in eight men's and eleven women's NCAA sanctioned sports.[6]
In 2008, the Atlantic Sun, in an agreement with the Southern Conference (SoCon), Middle Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC), and Big South Conference, formed the Coastal Collegiate Swimming Association (CCSA) for schools sponsoring men's and women's swimming and diving within the associated conferences. For the past several years, the Atlantic Sun's Commissioner has served as the president of what was initially a swimming & diving-only conference. In 2014 the CCSA expanded to include several other schools from other conferences, and the following year the conference added beach volleyball (women-only at the NCAA level) as a sponsored sport, changing its name to the Coastal Collegiate Sports Association. Currently the conference has 22 member schools, with eight men's swimming & diving teams, 11 women's swimming & diving teams, and eight beach volleyball teams.[7]
The most recent change to the roster of A-Sun sports took place after the 2013–14 school year. Under a cooperative agreement between the A-Sun and SoCon, the two leagues agreed to split lacrosse sponsorship. The SoCon took over the A-Sun men's lacrosse league, while women's lacrosse sponsorship remained with the A-Sun.[8]
File:Updated locations of Atlantic Sun teams 2012.png
Locations of 2013—14 Atlantic Sun Conference full member institutions.
| Sport | Men's | Women's |
|---|---|---|
| Baseball |
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| Basketball |
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| Beach volleyball* |
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| Cross Country |
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| Golf |
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| Lacrosse‡ |
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| Soccer |
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| Softball |
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| Tennis |
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| Track and Field (Indoor) |
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| Track and Field (Outdoor) |
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| Volleyball |
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- ‡ = Starting in 2014-15, men's lacrosse is sponsored by the Southern Conference and women's by the A-Sun.[8]
- * = Beach volleyball is a fully sanctioned NCAA sport which will have its first national championship in the spring of 2016.[9] The A-Sun was the first conference to sponsor a championship in the sport.
Men's sports
| School | Baseball | Basketball | Cross Country |
Golf | Soccer | Tennis | Track & Field (Indoor) |
Track & Field (Outdoor) |
Total Sports |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florida Gulf Coast |  |
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6 |
| Jacksonville | |
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5 |
| Kennesaw State | |
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7 |
| Lipscomb | |
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8 |
| NJIT | |
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†[m 1] | |
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6 |
| North Florida | |
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8 |
| Stetson | |
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6 |
| USC Upstate | |
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8 |
| Totals | 8 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 55 |
Men's varsity sports not sponsored by the Atlantic Sun Conference which are played by A-Sun schools:
| School | Fencing[m 1] | Football | Lacrosse | Rowing | Swimming & Diving |
Volleyball |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jacksonville | No | Pioneer League | SoCon | MAAC | No | No |
| NJIT | MACFA | No | Independent[m 2] | No | CCSA | EIVA |
| Kennesaw State | No | Big South | No | No | No | No |
| Stetson | No | Pioneer League | No | MAAC | No | No |
- ↑ Fencing is a coeducational team sport; schools have separate men's and women's teams, but the NCAA awards only a single team championship.
- ↑ The A-Sun and Southern Conference have a lacrosse alliance under which the two conferences split lacrosse sponsorship, with men's in the SoCon and women's in the A-Sun. Although NJIT will presumably become part of this alliance, no announcement regarding the school's lacrosse affiliation was made when NJIT was announced as a new A-Sun member.
Women's sports
| School | Basketball | Beach volleyball | Cross Country |
Golf | Lacrosse | Soccer | Softball | Tennis | Track & Field (Indoor) |
Track & Field (Outdoor) |
Volleyball | Total Sports |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florida Gulf Coast | |
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8 |
| Jacksonville | |
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10 |
| Kennesaw State | |
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10 |
| Lipscomb | |
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9 |
| NJIT | |
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7 |
| North Florida | |
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10 |
| Stetson | |
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| USC Upstate | |
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| Totals | 8 | 4+2** | 8 | 7 | 3+6* | 8 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 72+8 |
- * = Associate members Central Michigan, Detroit, Furman, Howard, Mercer and Old Dominion.
- ** = Associate members Mercer and Coastal Carolina.
Women's varsity sports not sponsored by the Atlantic Sun Conference which are played by A-Sun schools:
| School | Fencing[w 1] | Rowing | Swimming & Diving |
|---|---|---|---|
| Florida Gulf Coast | No | No | CCSA |
| Jacksonville | No | MAAC | No |
| NJIT | Independent | No | No |
| North Florida | No | No | CCSA |
| Stetson | No | MAAC | No |
- ↑ Fencing is a coeducational team sport; schools have separate men's and women's teams, but the NCAA awards only a single team championship.
Facilities
| School | Basketball arena | Capacity | Baseball stadium | Capacity | Soccer stadium | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florida Gulf Coast | Alico Arena | 4,633 | Swanson Stadium | 1,500 | FGCU Soccer Complex | 1,500 |
| Jacksonville | Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena (men) Swisher Gymnasium (women) |
14,091 1,500 |
John Sessions Stadium | 1,500 | Ashley Sports Complex | 500 |
| Kennesaw State | KSU Convocation Center | 4,792 | Fred Stillwell Stadium | 1,200 | Fifth Third Bank Stadium | 8,300 |
| Lipscomb | Allen Arena | 5,028 | Ken Dugan Field | 1,500 | Lipscomb Soccer Complex | 600 |
| NJIT | Fleisher Athletic Center Prudential Center (alternate) |
1,000 18,711 |
Bears and Eagles Riverfront Stadium | 6,200 | J. Malcolm Simon Stadium | 1,000 |
| North Florida | UNF Arena | 5,800 | Harmon Stadium | 1,000 | Hodges Stadium | 9,300 |
| Stetson | Edmunds Center | 5,000 | Melching Field at Conrad Park | 2,500 | Stetson Soccer Complex | 500 |
| USC Upstate | G. B. Hodge Center | 828 | Cleveland S. Harley Baseball Park | 500 | County U. Soccer Stadium | 300 |
All sports championships
The Jesse C. Fletcher and Sherman Day Trophies are awarded each year to the top men's and women's program in the conference. The Bill Bibb Trophy, combining the men's and women's results for the best overall program, was first awarded in 2006–07. East Tennessee State has won this overall trophy seven of the nine years it has been awarded; Florida Gulf Coast won in 2012–13 and 2014–15.[10]
Men's All Sports: Jesse C. Fletcher Trophy
| Year | Champion |
|---|---|
| 1978–79 | Oklahoma City |
| 1979–80 | Northeast Louisiana |
| 1980–81 | Northeast Louisiana |
| 1981–82 | Northeast Louisiana |
| 1982–83 | Georgia Southern |
| 1983–84 | Centenary |
| 1984–85 | Georgia Southern |
| 1985–86 | Houston Baptist |
| 1986–87 | Georgia Southern |
| 1987–88 | Georgia Southern |
| 1988–89 | Georgia Southern |
| 1989–90 | Georgia Southern |
| 1990–91 | Georgia Southern |
| 1991–92 | Florida International |
| 1992–93 | Florida International |
| 1993–94 | Florida International |
| 1994–95 | Central Florida |
| 1995–96 | Central Florida |
| 1996–97 | Florida International |
| 1997–98 | Georgia State |
| 1998–99 | Central Florida |
| 1999–00 | Georgia State |
| 2000–01 | Georgia State |
| 2001–02 | Georgia State |
| 2002–03 | Central Florida |
| 2003–04 | Central Florida |
| 2004–05 | Central Florida |
| 2005–06 | East Tennessee State |
| 2006–07 | East Tennessee State |
| 2007–08 | East Tennessee State |
| 2008–09 | East Tennessee State |
| 2009–10 | East Tennessee State |
| 2010–11 | East Tennessee State |
| 2011–12 | East Tennessee State |
| 2012–13 | Florida Gulf Coast |
| 2013–14 | East Tennessee State |
| 2014–15 | North Florida |
Women's All Sports: Sherman Day Trophy
| Year | Champion |
|---|---|
| 1978–79 | None |
| 1979–80 | None |
| 1980–81 | None |
| 1981–82 | None |
| 1982–83 | None |
| 1983–84 | None |
| 1984–85 | None |
| 1985–86 | Stetson, Georgia State |
| 1986–87 | Stetson |
| 1987–88 | Georgia State |
| 1988–89 | Georgia State |
| 1989–90 | Georgia State |
| 1990–91 | Florida International |
| 1991–92 | Florida International |
| 1992–93 | Georgia State |
| 1993–94 | Florida International |
| 1994–95 | Campbell |
| 1995–96 | Central Florida |
| 1996–97 | Central Florida |
| 1997–98 | Georgia State |
| 1998–99 | Central Florida |
| 1999–00 | Georgia State |
| 2000–01 | Georgia State |
| 2001–02 | Central Florida |
| 2002–03 | Central Florida |
| 2003–04 | Central Florida |
| 2004–05 | Central Florida |
| 2005–06 | Florida Atlantic |
| 2006–07 | East Tennessee State |
| 2007–08 | Jacksonville |
| 2008–09 | Jacksonville |
| 2009–10 | Kennesaw State |
| 2010–11 | Jacksonville |
| 2011–12 | Kennesaw State |
| 2012–13 | Florida Gulf Coast |
| 2013–14 | Jacksonville |
| 2014–15 | Florida Gulf Coast |
Former A-Sun members
| Institution | Location | Founded | Type | Enrollment | Joined | Left | Nickname | New Conference (Classification) |
Current Conference (Classification) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma City University | Oklahoma City, Oklahoma | 1904 | Private | 3,770 | 1978 | 1979 | Chiefs[a 1] | Midwestern City[b 1] (NCAA Division I non-football) |
Sooner (SAC) (NAIA Division I) |
| Pan American University[a 2] | Edinburg, Texas | 1927 | Public | 19,302 | 1978 | 1980 | Broncs[a 3] | NCAA D-I Independent (NCAA Division I non-football) |
WAC (NCAA Division I non-football) |
| Northeast Louisiana University[a 4] | Monroe, Louisiana | 1931 | Public | 8,405 | 1978 | 1982 | Indians[a 4] | Southland (NCAA Division I FCS) |
Sun Belt (NCAA Division I FBS) |
| Houston Baptist University | Houston, Texas | 1960 | Private | 2,567 | 1978 | 1989 | Huskies | NAIA Independent (NAIA non-football) |
Southland (NCAA Division I FCS) |
| Hardin–Simmons University | Abilene, Texas | 1891 | Private | 2,435 | 1978 | 1990 | Cowboys | TIAA (NCAA Division III) |
American Southwest (NCAA Division III) |
| Centenary College of Louisiana | Shreveport, Louisiana | 1825 | Private | 787 | 1978 | 1999 | Gentlemen (men's) Ladies (women's) |
NCAA D-I Independent (NCAA Division I non-football) |
SCAC (NCAA D-III) (NCAA Division III non-football) |
| Samford University | Homewood, Alabama | 1841 | Private | 4,440 | 1978 | 2003 | Bulldogs | OVC (NCAA Division I FCS) |
SoCon (NCAA Division I FCS) |
| Northwestern State University | Natchitoches, Louisiana | 1884 | Public | 9,244 | 1979 | 1984 | Demons | Southland (NCAA Division I FCS) |
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| University of Arkansas at Little Rock | Little Rock, Arkansas | 1927 | Public | 13,000 | 1979 | 1991 | Trojans | Sun Belt[b 2] | |
| Georgia Southern University | Statesboro, Georgia | 1906 | Public | 20,584 | 1979 | 1992 | Eagles | SoCon (NCAA Division I FCS) |
Sun Belt (NCAA Division I FBS) |
| Nicholls State University[a 5] | Thibodaux, Louisiana | 1948 | Public | 7,093 | 1982 | 1984 | Colonels | Gulf Star (NCAA Division I FCS) |
Southland (NCAA Division I FCS) |
| Georgia State University | Atlanta, Georgia | 1913 | Public | 32,087 | 1983 | 2005 | Panthers | CAA (NCAA Division I non-football)[b 3] |
Sun Belt (NCAA Division I FBS) |
| University of Texas at San Antonio | San Antonio, Texas | 1969 | Public | 30,474 | 1986 | 1991 | Roadrunners | Southland (NCAA Division I non-football)[b 4] |
C-USA (NCAA Division I FBS) |
| Southeastern Louisiana University | Hammond, Louisiana | 1925 | Public | 17,800 | 1991 | 1997 | Lions | Southland (NCAA Division I FCS) |
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| Florida International University | University Park, Florida | 1965 | Public | 50,394 | 1990 | 1998 | Golden Panthers[a 6] | Sun Belt (NCAA Division I non-football)[11] |
C-USA (NCAA Division I FBS) |
| College of Charleston | Charleston, South Carolina | 1770 | Public | 11,320 | 1991 | 1998 | Cougars | SoCon (NCAA Division I non-football)[b 5] |
CAA[b 5] |
| University of Central Florida | Orlando, Florida | 1963 | Public | 60,181 | 1992 | 2005 | Golden Knights[a 7] | C-USA (NCAA Division I FBS) |
The American (NCAA Division I FBS) |
| Florida Atlantic University | Boca Raton, Florida | 1961 | Public | 29,290 | 1993 | 2006 | Owls | Sun Belt (NCAA Division I FBS)[b 6] |
C-USA (NCAA Division I FBS) |
| Jacksonville State University | Jacksonville, Alabama | 1883 | Public | 9,490 | 1995 | 2003 | Gamecocks | OVC (NCAA Division I FCS) |
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| Troy University | Troy, Alabama | 1887 | Public | 29,689 | 1997 | 2005 | Trojans | Sun Belt (NCAA Division I FBS)[b 7] |
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| Gardner–Webb University | Boiling Springs, North Carolina | 1905 | Private | 4,300 | 2002 | 2008 | Runnin' Bulldogs | Big South (NCAA Division I FCS) |
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| Campbell University | Buies Creek, North Carolina | 1887 | Private | 4,120 | 1994 | 2011 | Fighting Camels | Big South (NCAA Division I FCS)[b 8] |
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| Belmont University | Nashville, Tennessee | 1890 | Private | 6,647 | 2001 | 2012 | Bruins | OVC (NCAA Division I FCS)[b 9] |
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| East Tennessee State University | Johnson City, Tennessee | 1911 | Public | 15,530 | 2005 | 2014 | Buccaneers | SoCon (NCAA Division I FCS)[b 10] |
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| Mercer University | Macon, Georgia | 1833 | Private | 8,300 | 1978 | 2014 | Bears | SoCon (NCAA Division I FCS) [b 11] |
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| Northern Kentucky University | Highland Heights, Kentucky | 1968 | Public | 15,263 | 2012 | 2015 | Norse | Horizon (NCAA Division I non-football) |
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- Notes
School names and nicknames listed here reflect those used during the schools' time in the TAAC/A-Sun. One school has changed both its name and nickname, and three others have changed only their nicknames:
- ↑ Oklahoma City adopted its current nickname of Stars in 1999.
- ↑ Pan American adopted its final name of the University of Texas–Pan American in 1989. In 2015, it merged with the University of Texas at Brownsville to form the new University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV).
- ↑ UTRGV inherited UTPA's athletic program, with the nickname being changed from Broncs to Vaqueros. UTRGV also inherited UTPA's membership in the Western Athletic Conference.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Northeast Louisiana adopted its current name of the University of Louisiana at Monroe in 1999. The school adopted its current nickname of Warhawks in 2006, when it joined the Sun Belt Conference.
- ↑ Nicholls State was a provisional member, and as such was never a full member of the TAAC.
- ↑ FIU dropped the word "Golden" from its nickname in 2010, becoming simply the Panthers.
- ↑ UCF dropped the word "Golden" from its nickname in 2007, becoming simply the Knights.
- ↑ The Midwestern City Conference is now known as the Horizon League.
- ↑ Although the Sun Belt Conference competes in football at the Division I FBS level, UALR does not sponsor the sport.
- ↑ The CAA began an FCS-level football league in 2007, but Georgia State did not sponsor the sport until 2010. It began a transition from FCS to FBS in 2013, and joined the FBS Sun Belt Conference in 2014.
- ↑ Although the Southland Conference competes in football at the Division I FCS level, UTSA did not sponsor the sport until 2011. It never competed in the Southland Conference in football; it started a two-year transition to FBS in 2011, joined the WAC in 2012, and joined Conference USA (C-USA) in 2013.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Although both the Southern Conference and CAA compete in football at the Division I FCS level, Charleston has never sponsored the sport.
- ↑ Florida Atlantic joined the Sun Belt for football in the 2005 season before becoming an all-sports member in 2006.
- ↑ Troy became a Sun Belt football member in 2004, a year before it became an all-sports member.
- ↑ Campbell is a full member of the Big South, but does not participate in the Big South’s football conference. The school operates a non-scholarship FCS program in the Pioneer Football League.
- ↑ Although the OVC competes in football at the Division I FCS level, Belmont does not sponsor the sport.[12]
- ↑ ETSU, which had left the SoCon to join the A-Sun in 2005 after dropping football in 2003. The Buccaneers returned to the SoCon as part of relaunching the dormant football program in 2014; football will begin play in 2015 as an FCS independent, with SoCon football membership following in 2016.
- ↑ Mercer joined the SoCon after the football program, which last played a game in 1941, signed its first players in 2012, with full play beginning in 2013.
Championships
- Atlantic Sun Men's Basketball Tournament
- Atlantic Sun Conference Baseball Tournament
- Atlantic Sun Conference Women's Basketball Tournament
Notes and references
- ↑ [1]
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Rankings
- ↑ http://www.atlanticsun.org/
- ↑ http://www.theccsa.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=24200&ATCLID=205668235
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ http://www.ncaa.com/news/ncaa/article/2015-01-17/ncaa-dii-diii-membership-approves-sand-volleyball-90th-championship
- ↑ Atlantic Sun: All Sports Race
- ↑ The Sun Belt did not start its Division I-A (now FBS) football league until 2001, and FIU did not start a football program until 2002. It competed as a Division I-AA (now FCS) independent until joining Sun Belt football in 2005.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
